A fine late Victorian boxwood and ebonised Staunton pattern chess set, probably by F. H. Ayres, late 19th century, one rook and one knight on each side stamped with a red crown, the Kings 8.5cm high; presented in a rectangular mahogany case, 9cm high, 18cm wide To be sold with a Chess player's pocket-book by James Mortimer dated 1888 The 'Staunton Pattern' chessmen were first patented in 1849, and the design is usually credited to journalist and entrepreneur Nathaniel Cooke. Occasionally it is attributed to John Jaques (see previous page), whose company was the first of many manufacturers to produce and retail Staunton sets. The design was named after Howard Staunton, a world famous English chess master at the time, whose important endorsement was mentioned in the Morning Herald when Staunton sets first appeared on the market: 'A new set of Chessmen has recently appeared under the auspices of Mr. STAUNTON, who, observing their manifest superiority over the old figures in ordinary use, not only as works of art, but in the more practical necessities of convenience, has vouchsafed the guarantee of his name and recommendation.' The iconic, streamlined design, which was easier to produce than the more ornate ivory models from before, soon became the standard and is still synonymous with the game of chess.